Water Management

Outdoor Water Conservation

New England's climate and soil geology are not ideal for grass lawns, and they will only become harder to maintain as summer temperatures become more extreme due to climate change. Click here to read this fact sheet on best practices for saving water, planting the right turf, and applying fertilizer. Click here to read this article by the EPA on water-efficient landscaping. This page by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority summarizes these best practices.

As climate change makes droughts more common, underground irrigation systems can be a great way to keep your yard healthy. To make sure you're not wasting water, consult these guidelines on which irrigation system is right for you.

Consider using a rain collection barrel connected to your downspout! This can be a great way to retain water for your garden between rains. Click here to learn more about rain barrels.

Indoor Water Conservation

You can save water and money by making easy home improvements to more water-efficient technologies. In our region over the last 5 years, the average residential water use has been 45–50 gallons per person per day, with a 25-50% increase in the summer months. The highest average uses for domestic water are:

  • Toilets - 25%
  • Clothes washers - 22%
  • Showers - 17%
  • Faucets - 16%
  • Leaks - 16%

Fortunately, these technologies can help cut down on indoor water waste:

  • Older toilets can use between 3.5 and 7 gallons per flush (gpf). Newer low flush-high efficiency toilets use 1.3-1.5 gpf, which could save 15,000 gallons per year. Toilets can be checked for leaks by putting food coloring in the toilet tank and checking in 10-15 minutes for traces of color in the toilet bowl. Any appearance of color indicates that  the flapper valve in the toilet tank needs replaced.
  • Older clothes washers can use 35-50 gallons per load. Newer front loading models use less than 15 gallons per load, which could save 10,000 gallons per year. These models also wring out more moisture from the clothes resulting in quicker and more energy-efficient drying, decreased wear on clothes, and less detergent required. Mass Save also offers rebates on these washers, and certain residents may qualify for a new clothes washer through income-based assistance. Click here to learn more.
  • Mass Save also offers rebates on high-efficiency shower fixtures, thermostatic shutoff valves, and faucet aerators to help you use less water while maintaining your water pressure. Click here to learn more.

Water Quality

Stormwater

Stormwater is the water that runs off the land after or snowmelt. Rain or snow can drain down into the soil (called infiltration), evaporate back into the atmosphere, be used by plants, or flow into bodies of water like streams or lakes. This is referred to as stormwater runoff. Stormwater flows much faster over impervious, paved surfaces, and can pick up more pollutants like sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, bacteria from pet waste, vehicle fluids, road salt, and other contaminants, carrying the pollutants into bodies of water and leaching into groundwater. Runoff can also cause erosion. All of these effects can negatively impact wildlife habitat, water quality in ponds and lakes, and increase the risk of flooding in developed areas.

The town regulates development to maximize stormwater management. Read the plans here.

Here are some ways you can help reduce the negative impacts of stormwater runoff:

  • Keep fallen leaves and lawn clippings out of the streets to prevent drain blockage. Instead, you can put them in a backyard composter or bring them to the Transfer Station to turn them into natural fertilizer.
  • Reduce your outdoor use of household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides, fertilizers, paint, solvents, and vehicle fluids. Clean up spilled chemicals by letting them dry and bringing them to household hazardous waste collection sites, rather than trying to wash them away. Use backyard compost as a natural fertilizer. Avoid sprinkling more than one inch of water on your lawn so that the excess does not run off.
  • Pick up your dogs' waste to prevent it from contaminating public bodies of water.

Farm Pond

One of Sherborn's most cherished natural resource is Farm Pond. Here's some challenges the pond faces in staying sustainable, and how we can help:

  • Algae and cyanobacteria blooms occur when fertilizer runoff and rising temperatures allow aquatic microbes to rapidly reproduce to concentrations hazardous to human and animal health. Avoid using fertilizers on your lawn -- they will run off into the pond and cause these hazards.
  • Farm Pond's water quality is negatively impacted by stormwater runoff, animal waste, and chemical pollution. Keep up with actions the town is taking to mitigate these effects.
  • Invasive species such as water chestnut and zebra mussels can hitch a ride on boats from other bodies of water and choke the usable space of Farm Pond. Abide by state law and wash your boat and watercraft before and after usage. You can also report sightings of invasive species to the Farm Pond Advisory Committee.